TEN THINGS ABOUT STANDING - Part 1
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33
My wife, Charlyne, and I thought that July 7, 1987 was the end of the story of our marriage restoration. At 2:00 p.m. that day we were remarried to each other. When we awoke that morning, living 100 miles apart, neither of us had any idea that would be the day for which Charlyne had prayed, fasted, and stood so earnestly. The Holy Spirit moved mightily that day, and that evening we went to bed as "newlyweds."
Little did we know what God had in store for us, just as you do not know what God has in store for you and your returned and redeemed spouse. If God had revealed to us on the day of our remarriage that for 20 plus years He would be entrusting us to minister to tens of thousands of people, also with marriage problems, Charlyne and I would have probably been under the bed, instead of in the bed that night.
I want to share with you ten points about standing. This could also be titled, “Why Stand?†These insights into standing with God and praying for marriage restoration His way are not a complete list, but they are, in my book, the top ten:
1. Your prodigal spouse can repent and gain life eternal through a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
Neither you nor I can judge whether your spouse is/was a Christian. Nevertheless, walking out on a wife and family to pursue selfish desires is a sin. You spouse needs to deal with their sin, and the only way to do that is through a relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. If you give up and stop praying for your mate, who will?
2. You, personally, can develop a closer walk with Jesus than you have ever experienced.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:6
During a marriage crisis, no one remains the same spiritually. They either turn their back on God, or draw closer to Him, learning to trust Him fully for each day. We know of scores of people who had never stopped to consider a relationship with Jesus Christ until their marriage crisis struck. We also know of scores and scores of people, including my wife, who can say, “Having my spouse walk out is the best thing that ever happened to me, because it brought me so much closer to Jesus, and He is all that really matters.â€
3. You will have the direction of God for the hard choices (and hard places) in your life.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.†Acts 2:38-39
It has been said that people’s biggest questions in life deal with location and vocation. “Where do I live and what do I do?†Beyond that, we each face thousands of choices every day. God has given us a brain to use to make those choices, but even better, He has given to every Christian His Holy Spirit, to dwell in us, and to guide us, through every decision we make. Standing with God and praying for marriage restoration, during this crisis, will fine-tune your ability to be guided by the Holy Spirit in all of your tomorrows.
4. You will know without any doubt that God answers prayer.
My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Psalm 17:5-7
My wife learned to pray while standing. Not simply grace at mealtime, but prayers that caused God to move. I cannot imagine how many times Charlyne has handled a family crisis with her prayers. After many years of major illnesses, when the doctors said I was dying, I can appreciate Charlyne knowing how to pray. The effective praying that you are learning as a stander will be yours for a lifetime.
5. You will learn that God can be trusted.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:4-5
As you see the hand of God intervening in your life, in areas beyond your marriage, you will start to see that the heart of God is for your very best. As God answers small prayers for you on a daily basis, you will learn for a lifetime that He can be trusted with every aspect of your life.
(To be continued tomorrow)
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33
My wife, Charlyne, and I thought that July 7, 1987 was the end of the story of our marriage restoration. At 2:00 p.m. that day we were remarried to each other. When we awoke that morning, living 100 miles apart, neither of us had any idea that would be the day for which Charlyne had prayed, fasted, and stood so earnestly. The Holy Spirit moved mightily that day, and that evening we went to bed as "newlyweds."
Little did we know what God had in store for us, just as you do not know what God has in store for you and your returned and redeemed spouse. If God had revealed to us on the day of our remarriage that for 20 plus years He would be entrusting us to minister to tens of thousands of people, also with marriage problems, Charlyne and I would have probably been under the bed, instead of in the bed that night.
I want to share with you ten points about standing. This could also be titled, “Why Stand?†These insights into standing with God and praying for marriage restoration His way are not a complete list, but they are, in my book, the top ten:
1. Your prodigal spouse can repent and gain life eternal through a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
Neither you nor I can judge whether your spouse is/was a Christian. Nevertheless, walking out on a wife and family to pursue selfish desires is a sin. You spouse needs to deal with their sin, and the only way to do that is through a relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. If you give up and stop praying for your mate, who will?
2. You, personally, can develop a closer walk with Jesus than you have ever experienced.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:6
During a marriage crisis, no one remains the same spiritually. They either turn their back on God, or draw closer to Him, learning to trust Him fully for each day. We know of scores of people who had never stopped to consider a relationship with Jesus Christ until their marriage crisis struck. We also know of scores and scores of people, including my wife, who can say, “Having my spouse walk out is the best thing that ever happened to me, because it brought me so much closer to Jesus, and He is all that really matters.â€
3. You will have the direction of God for the hard choices (and hard places) in your life.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.†Acts 2:38-39
It has been said that people’s biggest questions in life deal with location and vocation. “Where do I live and what do I do?†Beyond that, we each face thousands of choices every day. God has given us a brain to use to make those choices, but even better, He has given to every Christian His Holy Spirit, to dwell in us, and to guide us, through every decision we make. Standing with God and praying for marriage restoration, during this crisis, will fine-tune your ability to be guided by the Holy Spirit in all of your tomorrows.
4. You will know without any doubt that God answers prayer.
My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Psalm 17:5-7
My wife learned to pray while standing. Not simply grace at mealtime, but prayers that caused God to move. I cannot imagine how many times Charlyne has handled a family crisis with her prayers. After many years of major illnesses, when the doctors said I was dying, I can appreciate Charlyne knowing how to pray. The effective praying that you are learning as a stander will be yours for a lifetime.
5. You will learn that God can be trusted.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:4-5
As you see the hand of God intervening in your life, in areas beyond your marriage, you will start to see that the heart of God is for your very best. As God answers small prayers for you on a daily basis, you will learn for a lifetime that He can be trusted with every aspect of your life.
(To be continued tomorrow)
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc
